I've also had one for several years. It was purchased in 1997. I don't do a lot of construction or repair, so my use of it is light. I've used it on plated thru hole boards with no problem. I have not used any comparable devices, only manual suckers (bad reflux from them). So I can't compare it to the Hakko.
It is a one shot solenoid operated piston device in a soldering gun format. It doesn't seem to reflux (splatter solder particles out after the suck cycle). Cleaning is done with supplied wire cleaners. Solder is collected in an easily removed cylinder interposed between the heating head and the sucking device. There is a foam filter in the tube. A tool is provided for removing the chamber when it is hot so you can dump the old solder and continue on. Heating is adjustable but actual temperature numbers are not provided. I don't think there is any tip temperature sensing, just a solid state heat control. The tips screw into the heater head. My data sheet shows 0.8mm (0.03in), 1.0mm (0.038in), and 1.2mm (0.046in) sizes available. It does clog occasionally at the tip, and it requires tinning and cleaning on the outside of the tip, like any soldering iron, in order to maintain good thermal contact with the work piece. It is user serviceable and a parts list and assembly diagram are provided. The supplied stand would be considered flimsy by many, but I've found it to be adequate. I was able to order extra tips shortly after I bought it, but I haven't had any further contact with the manufacturer/supplier, so I can't speak to the current support situation. Dick Ballard Beaverton OR W7AND On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 17:21:07 -0500, you wrote: >Gil: > >At 03:34 PM 7/26/04, you wrote: >>Hi, Jim. I've had one of these units for a little over a couple of years >>and find it to be very sufficient for my needs such as the updates to the >>Elecraft K2/100 etc. Also the other mods as I have deemed fit to install. >>Even backed some of them out.I have not had any experience with any other >>similar piece of equipment however. Except for using desoldering braid and >>the old solder sucker and soldering iron bit. Hope this helps Gil K8EAG > > >Please tell the reflector more about this device. > >I (and several others) have previously expounded upon the benefits of the >Hakko 808 desoldering gun, and I've repeatedly asked the reflector if >anyone had any experience with the Xytronic, but to no avail. > >We need to be aware of other options available to us, so please take a >little time and give us a better write-up on the Xytronic desoldering >gun... it looks pretty nifty. > >Please consider including info on how well it works on double-sided >(plated-thru hole) boards, how easy it is to clean out, whether it's prone >to clogging, and if so how easy is it to clean out, what size tips are >available for it, what maintenance is required (regularly and.or >periodically), things the user will want to now ahead of time, rather than >when it's too late. > >And, of course, IF there are others of you out there who have used this >device, PLEASE take the time to offer your comments to the reflector as well. > >Thanks, > >Tom Hammond N0SS > >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
